Day 1 Airport – Kotugoda
Welcome to Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean! In keeping with Sri Lankan tradition, all of us here at Wander Ceylon will like to extend to you our heartiest “Ayubowan!” (Traditional Sri Lankan greeting wishing long life to the other)
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met by your Chauffeur guide & transferred to your hotel in Kotugoda.
Transfer Time (Airport to Kotugoda): Approximately 35 minutes.
Check in at the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Accommodation: Wallawwa
Room type : Garden Suite
Basis : Bed and Breakfast Basis
*Special welcome dinner at the garden*
Day 2 Kotugoda - Sigiriya
Pick up time 09:00 am, this day after breakfast you will proceed to Sigiriya.
Transfer Time (Kotugoda to Sigiriya): Approximately 03 ½ hours.
Check into the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Accommodation : Water Garden
Room type : Superior Deluxe Villa with Plunge Pool
Basis: Bed and Breakfast Basis
Day 3 Sigiriya – Sigiriya Rock – Minneriya - Sigiriya
Pick up at 08:30 am this day after breakfast you will be taken to climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Transfer Time (Hotel to Sigiriya Rock Fortress): Approx. 20 minutes.
One of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress was built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD) for the purpose of protecting him from his rivals. An UNSECO World Heritage listed site, also known as the “Fortress in the Sky”. The climb up to the top of the fortress doesn’t only offer the reward of breathtaking views but there is so much to discover during your climb to the top.
Return back to the hotel and relax till afternoon before heading for Minneriya National Park jeep safari.
Transfer Time (Hotel to Minneriya National Park): Approx. 35 minutes.
Pick up at 02:00 pm The extent of the Minneriya National Park is approximately 8,889 hectares. Dry zone plant and animal species are common. The elephants are a highlight of the park. Approximately 160 species of birds, 9 amphibians, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species can also be found here. There are also rare bamboo trees in this park which is unique to Minneriya National Park.
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Accommodation : Water Garden
Room type : Superior Deluxe Villa with Plunge Pool
Basis: Bed and Breakfast Basis
Day 4 Sigiriya – Anuradhapura – Hiriwaduna - Sigiriya
Pick up time 08:30 am, this day after breakfast you will be taken to visit Anuradhapura Sacred City.
Transfer Time (Hotel to Anuradhapura Sacred City): Approx. 01 ½ hours.
Anuradhapura was the first ancient kingdom and Capital of Sri Lanka. As you explore the ancient ruins of this UNSECO World Heritage listed site, be sure to visit the city’s greatest treasures. These include the magnificent 13-metre-high statue of Lord Buddha carved out of solid granite, the most renowned relic of the Bodhi Tree (grown from a branch transported from India) under which Buddha was believed to have attained enlightenment. In addition to above, there are many other important shrines and monuments that give Anuradhapura its significant status as the first kingdom.
Thereafter you will be taken to visit Hiriwaduna Village to experience a local village and enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan Lunch.
Transfer Time (Anuradhapura Sacred City to Hiriwaduna): Approx. 01 ½ hours.
Here you will witness the day-to-day activities done in a Sri Lankan village as well as their transportation methods in the early dates.
First you will be taken into the village where you will have a catamaran ride in the lake, thereafter you will be taken to the village house in a tuk tuk where you will get along with the family members and learn about preparing an authentic Sri Lankan lunch
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Accommodation : Water Garden
Room type : Superior Deluxe Villa with Plunge Pool
Basis : Bed and Breakfast Basis
Day 5 Sigiriya – Dambulla – Kandy
Pick up time at 08:30am, this day after breakfast you will proceed to Kandy, on your way you will visit Dambulla Cave Temple.
Transfer Time (Sigiriya to Kandy via Dambulla): Approximately 02 ½ hours.
Dambulla cave temple is part of the Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka and is encrusted into a magnificently large rock. It sits more than 160m above the surrounding land and spans for more than 1.5 km around the base.
Also known as the “Golden Temple” it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. This ancient complex was initially established in 3rd Century BC and is truly a wonder as it is the largest and best-preserved cave temples in Sri Lanka.
The cave temples are home to numerous religious and cultural paintings and sculptures.
Return back to the hotel and relax till evening before heading to Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Transfer Time (Hotel to Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic): Approximately 20 minutes.
Pick up time at 05:00pm The Temple of Tooth Relic (“Dalada Maligawa” as known to the locals) is located in Kandy. This sacred temple is also home to the palm-leaf transcripts and its history dates back to 1687. This stunning piece of architecture is instantly recognised by its octagonal shape and golden roof. Although you are not able to view the actual tooth itself, the casket within which it is held is displayed twice a day.
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 6 Kandy – Hatton – Dick Oya
Pick up time 07:30 am today after early breakfast you will get on board to the local train (01st class tickets or 02nd class tickets) which is how the British used to travel during the colonial times in the late 1800’s. You will have reserved seats for you and witness the beautiful ride along forests, villages, Waterfalls and tea estates.
Train journey from Kandy station to Hatton station
Train leaves Kandy by 08:25 am and reach Hatton by 10:35am.
Approx. 02 ½ hours’ journey
Notes
- It is important to note that there have been delays in the train timings quite often.
- Please note the purchase of train tickets cannot be guaranteed currently due to the process in place within the Sri Lanka Railways Department especially during peak periods. Tickets for travel are issued 30 days in advance of travel, are limited and extremely difficult to obtain. In the unlikely event a ticket/s cannot be obtained we will of course make the necessary refunds & the clients will travel by road. This is a destination issue and it is best expectations are managed accordingly.
Arrive to Hatton railway station, meet your chauffer guide there and he will drive you to the hotel in Dick Oya, check into the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 7 Dick Oya
Spend the days at leisure within the vast tea Plantation. Visit a Guided tea plantations and tea tour.
During this experience, you’ll learn all about the tea production process by visiting one of our local tea factories. The factories themselves are iconic; vast, atmospheric, and filled with heavy machinery, some dating back over a century.
One of the factory managers will host you on a guided tour, showing you the processes, introducing you to the machines and demonstrating how each of them works.
At the end, you’ll have the opportunity to taste a few varieties of tea in an insightful tea tasting session. The factory also has a selection of tea for sale if you wish to purchase some to take back home.
Thereafter you will be taken for sundowners at a secret viewpoint.
Pick up at 04:00 pm There are some wonderful picnic spots around the bungalow, many of which present stunning views of the surrounding landscapes and a mirror-still reservoir. If you would like to enjoy a picnic, evening tea, or sip sundowners whilst taking in these panoramic vistas, we’ve got the perfect viewpoint for you.The trip to the secret viewpoint entails a short 20-minute walk along the tea-lined estate where you will pass through neatly manicured tea bushes, and lush flora, and perhaps witness some beautiful birdlife along the way.
At the viewpoint, a butler will be ready to spoil you with delectable food and your choice of G&Ts or beer, whilst you stare in awe at the beauty and tranquility of the emerald-green hills and breathtaking reservoir in front of you..
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 8 Dick Oya - Ahungalla
Pick up at 10:00 am, this day after breakfast you will proceed to Ahungalla.
Transfer Time (Dick Oya to Ahungalla): Approximately 05 ½ hours.
Check into the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Optional – After breakfast take Cinnamon air charter flight from Castlereagh Reservoir to Koggala Lagoon.
(30 minutes flying time)
USD 2,345 per flight (Cinnamon air charter flight including ground transfers)
Day 9 – 12 Ahungalla
Full days at leisure.
Optional- Pick up time 09:00 am The True Taste of Ceylon, Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinamomum Zylanicum) a plant indigenous to Sri Lanka is a moderately size bushy ever green tree. Cinnamon grown and produced in Sri Lanka has acquired long standing reputation in the international market due to its unique, quality, colour, flavour and aroma.
The name Ceylon Cinnamon derived from the former name of Sri Lanka is a very established geographical indication for Cinnamon. The Ceylon Cinnamon belongs to the family Lauraceae and it contains about 250 species and sub species. ‘Ceylon Cinnamon’ (Cinamomum Zeylanicum Blume) and Cassia are the more important ones that are traded in the international market. Cassia is originated from different countries such as China, Vietnam region, Java region, Indonesia and India. ‘Ceylon Cinnamon’ referred to as “sweet cinnamon” and “true cinnamon” is considered superior to the variety known as Cassia.
Begin at a 10-acre cinnamon plantation where you will plant your own cinnamon sapling. Then your host will show you the art of harvesting the cinnamon bark, along with the leaves. We then take a short ride to the Baddegama Lagoon, where a short scenic boat ride will take you to the Hikkaduwa town. On the way you will pass lush cinnamon estates and learn about the story of the canal ways built by the Dutch, meant for transporting harvested cinnamon to the harbour. The last stop is at our host’s home, where you will be treated to a 15-minute cinnamon oil foot massage whilst you witness cinnamon peelers working their magic and rolling the cinnamon to be dried. At the end of the experience, you will be treated to a hearty cinnamon infused lunch prepared by a certified Ayurvedic doctor.
USD 134 per person
Optional- Pick up time 07:00 am, Discover the historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument that is the Galle Fort with a resident local host. First built in 1589 by the Portuguese, and extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th Century, the Galle Fort has a colourful history, and is recognised by UNESCO as a living World Heritage Site today. The fort itself is a haven for architectural fanatics.
Your host will meet you post an early dinner. The meeting point will be at the Sunset Restaurant, where you will learn about the origins and the colonial occupants of the Galle Fort in brief, before we set off on our adventure. Fasten your seatbelts as this one will be one for the memory books.
The Galle Fort at night is calm, a wee bit eerie and magical. You host will take you on a journey back in time, traversing through forgotten graveyards, abandoned gun powder mills, old quarries and lost dungeons. Gaze at the lit-up silk route in the far horizon and witness the lighthouse beam touch the walls of the Fort. The highlight of the tour will be learning about the different ethnicities that occupy these walls. If you are lucky, you will also have the opportunity to visit a the home of a local for a chat and a cup of tea. We end the tour with a cold one at the historic Dutch Hospital.
USD 118 per person
Optional- Pick up time 09:00 am, The art of wooden mask making in Sri Lanka is an artisan industry that has been passed down generationally. The small coastal town of Ambalangoda in the South is well known for traditional mask carving and mask performances. Mask carving is quite a complex process which requires a great deal of skill and patience. The timber used for the purpose is known as vel kaduru — a tree which is found close to paddy fields or marshy lands. The manner in which a small tree log becomes a mask the process is quite fascinating.
You will visit the house of a local mask making family in Ambalangoda. Your host/ interpreter will give you an introduction to mask making and it’s uses before we start the to learn how a small tree log becomes a mask. He/ she will also introduce you to the mask making family and their story. Then the family will start to show you the secrets of this age-old art by crafting a few masks using their tool and finally applying paint to them. You are free to go hands on and join in on the mask crafting and painting if you wish.
USD 110 per person
Day 13 Ahungalla – Airport
Having reached at the end of your program, you will be transferred to the Bandaranaike International Airport from where you will continue onwards to your next destination.
Transfer Time (Ahungalla to Airport): Approximately 02 ½ hours.
